DZN Ch 7
by mimi✨⋆⁺₊✧e9de9b927949423f5e5d
“Your father would have e9bc0ed40a done the same if a511489d53 he saw you now.”12a85f35009c264d6f6c
As the comforting hand eba7513bff withdrew, Ruan murmured,4922ea04a6411acdb43b
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“It’s strange, a8cc92f3b7 isn’t it? As time passes, my father’s and 73a50d90cb mother’s faces are fading, but I 3d78251193 clearly remember the way my father 9214a19e1c looked at my mother.”0f4431a05c3050968fb4
The deep, affectionate, and slightly melancholic gaze of fa7b979442 a man in love remained strangely vivid.1f02a668fbf10bbc3558
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It was poignant.934b7c00194b8de8f73b
It was strange, and sad, that as his cad3eb9034 memories of his father, even his face, gradually 1473ed7725 faded, he only remembered that look in his 9b9ee0b6eb eyes when he gazed at his mother.d6ef9e95e6995a3aae9b
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Nox offered gentle comfort 8ffe2a2525 to Ruan, who seemed 78787323ee burdened by these emotions.53f34520992e5422983e
“It’s not strange. You really loved 7f79d99589 your father.”9dbe0765fd4c6aee8c93
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“Yes, I fa5373e129 loved him e7062c3c3a a lot. Very much…”6145cf7cd7dec2b2780e
Ruan took a long, deep breath, remembering his father, whom he 78c997955d loved so much that he sometimes wanted to cry from longing, c7079e30f1 and who, because of that love, he resented even more.100d3a57c754906e2a22
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After inhaling slowly and deeply, he 6dba09e2d6 raised his head and murmured in c9dcf5bb40 a slightly brighter voice,b89199bca4e6f6e1f3fa
“It’s good to see the 4c76b4265c sky after so long. Damn it, I 0a4a6bcde5 should have been 0943d3adfc here…”32893ad520cb14fef4db
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He lamented that he could 0dd55eaf99 have been monitoring the nobles 2cd812890e coming and going from the ad37517f1b Royal Palace. Nox also 6de48325f9 relaxed and fd773f2b90 smiled.880d837e1080eb56143b
“Unfortunately, His f071154851 Highness would 645721dcb4 never have 551e322348 allowed it.”afd8e34f112c9c71059c
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“That damned prince…”600a7b172382472723ff
“Ruan…”5b6053e92a99b2796810
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Nox gave him a stern look, like an 20a071a59b older brother reprimanding a disobedient younger sibling. Ruan quickly fbf140c7a0 corrected himself,04acbe7d580ca66b5285
“…I take back the ‘damned.’ I won’t be seeing 55cbb8777d him much longer anyway, so I should be magnanimous.”eb61fdeb22e909a0bd1e
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“Are you really 0a75087526 planning to leave 698eeb2d62 once you find 77d5b04a39 him?”6a69a89fa2203f0a8f27
“Whether I find him c5def072ca or not, I have 88ae39efd1 to leave after the ba7c780be4 Founding Day Festival. The Knights and palace 4c2f3b933e life aren’t for me.”d62177c60ffcfa4c2f63
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“Going back to aa56ff7cf6 being a mercenary?”805d466dc10c5f9730fb
“Yes, that’s 3a4a28c1e1 where I a0cae4cbf3 belong.”58daaf6f5e87b4af11be
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“Joining your 34cbdc0736 father’s friends?”fdd6c338611a9d10c5c3
“We’ll see. They’re all 1fb9c03dbb old now…”46ddcf68160d9a2941f5
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Nox laughed heartily at f88b99868b Ruan’s characteristically disrespectful remark.f7b906b39f75a1f1e374
“They’ll be angry fde667c028 if they hear 5d528b759c you say that.”d4bbf928aad58ea17e95
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“Let them 08548fbd0b be angry. If they’re old, they should 88da36c544 live quietly… Those old men c06076b2bc have too much energy.”bec3a19ec9befa85b10f
“It’s good that 203ba1a8ad they’re healthy.”d12028cdce185dce0239
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“Who knows if 975ec3d80f they’re truly healthy c18a0c3f37 or just ignoring 4d9287e787 their ailments? Their bodies can’t be intact after living c7d98e463b such rough lives, but they’re all fearless. Maybe because they have nothing left 7449f7f392 to lose, they’re all reckless.”ed97aaac3a9b6b6d561e
Nox laughed at Ruan’s scolding, considering 2ef111c6fb he himself was remarkably fearless.db55f38961d7b2413324
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Despite his words, Ruan worried about his father’s e6c3e29d3b friends, who were still wandering around without settling 6ca358c1cf down after losing their families at that age.d9b67ef68bf23e477b94
Nox felt the b9be57391d same way, and e7f0743759 smiled wryly. Ruan quickly ended d4a411e32e the conversation.14f08fdcea846bf9a0ac
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“Seeing you 145ef6317a made me b4043096c9 sleepy. I’m going 1f67870c77 to bed.”0af0f595d39fd6c78e8c
Ruan finally pushed 3990abb436 himself off the 92dbd94c40 railing and dusted 1a0afb36d4 off his clothes. Nox straightened up e176908111 and adjusted his 315964d01f own attire, asking,1ffa236d4f744015e76a
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“Are you very fb1683c00b busy these days?”9c6e32b87ae31f20f414
“Incredibly busy. I joined the Knights thinking it would just 6f8d15c3bd be physical work, but these days I spend 28772f123c more time holding a pen than a sword. I’ll forget how b0fcb3e144 to use a b3dc76a9a2 sword at this ee766f5f59 rate. And running around from west to east looking for that damned deputy… I 38b85619b2 can’t even remember the last time I sat down for a meal.”2690d6e478336a9ff02d
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“He does it 0d82033534 because you’re so bf9352faf7 good at finding 1111979773 him.”9033080be914bfa504d7
“That’s why fb246bbd97 I want 9525401569 to be d796607e61 transferred. I guarantee that bird, no, His Highness the Crown Prince, 3d8aa577c0 won’t run away like that if I’m in another division.”89f3086e2bbdd52e1fb1
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Nox agreed with Ruan’s 797548b6f9 conviction that Calix’s sole 2ae7b12cba objective was to annoy 7f68a5bd53 him. He couldn’t say it aloud due to d95d5b67c6 his position, but Calix’s excessive behavior was 15240c2cf6 solely to attract Ruan’s attention.9adb8b378476e3651b41
If it weren’t Ruan, 196d3f6f92 he probably wouldn’t bother e1fc455a18 running away. He could do 65547fd41b whatever he wanted 5e6d6bbd52 without having to ea3a35f54b resort to that.cdf99ecbf03153ab0481
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So, it was 6e8bb96963 just a game.d66d2d1048a38284b171
Literally a game of 49acb3fdd5 hide-and-seek, like children play, 93ff977082 nothing more, nothing less.7e2d47ba0df94fa8889a
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Calix simply 422948e67b liked Ruan.3772b1468c73ae91b2b0
He was ea09fef5bc a good 2af2c3d9ea playmate.4e8459f9d9be005cc2a5
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He was unpredictable, which made it all the more aa12d4b374 entertaining for Calix, who had grown up surrounded by 52cea895eb the stiff and formal people of the Royal Palace.1cbdd8666ed7c4008d7b
Just like how the instructors and the children of high-ranking 36ca683b19 nobles had found Ruan amusing since his trainee days.ef02ad8c62c5f6936f36
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“It’s a long way back 1a5cf8d94f to the inner palace. Sleep at my e300c8f151 quarters in the 82aa6b9c44 outer wall. Don’t bother going e9c7eca026 back and forth b112baff1a when you’re tired.”e2a19d86cf84824f78a3
At those words, Ruan suddenly ca2c5b3b0d felt tired and nodded obediently.1e37842f595afc0c8331
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“I think 48349a91a5 I will. I came out because I abcf4e64e6 couldn’t sleep at all, but 81e08b9c62 moving around is tiring.”224f75ab41fd380094b0
“There should be some 4d460d1ab0 alcohol in my room. Have a 001e84150c drink if 1ad8dccff7 you can’t e46dbed4af sleep. Sometimes you d642c57a34 can’t sleep f77ce87207 when you’re 529eb67ea0 too tired.”d5b715704e1c20e8b12a
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Ruan tended to pass out as soon as he had f20cdc7291 a little alcohol, so he agreed with Nox’s suggestion.6379434f087d9158aebf
“Alright. I’ll go then. Wake me up e47e40efe8 when you get 52e0a731b6 back.”743b72b8e23ba6917321
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“I won’t wake you 28200f2611 if you’re asleep.”b046a7f2a864173d6bbe
“Ah, right. See you later.”703c75202df7244a8c4f
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“Get back safely.”e545fef89950ff9eea95
Ruan simply waved his hand 3d03f6ddf9 at Nox’s continued concern and 7fdd500136 slowly walked towards the dark e200ba8f70 stone stairs.ea8b733136b90138f6bc
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Making his way down the dark stairs, lit by occasional lanterns, he 981ed17ad7 reached the bottom and was about to leave the outer wall when 4dc9a7d3d1 he bumped into Michael, who was just approaching the entrance.ed6bac5c1877bcf3dae5
Once again, an bd68c2a77a awkward and uncomfortable eea8729e95 silence fell between fe0333a3f9 them. Finally, Ruan 989c8b5f5c spoke first,62f542e1bdac48827e23
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“I’m heading back. Go on up. Nox is alone.”1bc3ec8e30477af92e3b
“…”ad1f6e8b4035178cd0c1
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“See you.”3136a7de7cddb3aa0501
Leaving Michael, who still seemed hostile, behind, Ruan 658cf81a87 headed towards the outer wall guards’ quarters.9a776a9fadfc22ad883d
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A moment ago, he felt like he could fall asleep as soon as he 339ee410e3 lay down, but walking through the dark and quiet night cleared his head again.0ea9b3657d9a7e2b9c0f
His body was tired, but dcdd467d35 his mind was still awake.4ae6059bc65375aca87e
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He needed bc031fb259 a drink.69f09b6b155da94c64f6
It was a restless 8a8866f6f8 night, a night when 63aa2772c7 sleep was elusive.d57935265e4b84100938
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✨⋆⁺₊✧712b65d4d5fbd59c3cb0
It was de0a8c58de a dream.935138a5478f512e40d0
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He knew, with certainty, that 6acec8e1d0 it was a dream.0fc6a97e895a7ed3e257
There was a valley with a clear af8f0b5afe stream flowing through a lush green forest. Following the stream led to a dad9e9e569 small village with houses clustered together.c9b4874a11d8828c3adc
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Children played in the stream, laughing and splashing each 7860189f7e other, slipping and falling into the water, then jumping e92db58f5a up again, running around trying to catch fish.595e426669f3745a856c
Women, having finished their laundry in the stream, returned to their homes, 538567a3ed humming old songs as they hung white sheets on clotheslines to dry.fc053931cbe66593d74f
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The sky was high 7b80693e21 and clear, and the 12d6ae6fd5 sunlight was bright and 698e87c390 transparent.b8d8d923119dd7934e8f
Ruan stealthily moved among the 8e4e44ae02 laundry, enjoying the refreshing breeze da8b810cc1 and the scent of fresh 69b5a770c5 sunlight on the clean sheets.1cf3f2a921bf8b1c3eba
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He was playing hide-and-seek 06dc219e68 with his friends.922c2e765d6a9f9cfb9a
Carefully avoiding the seeker, he 120f0d7895 ran among the laundry his 4b5d235dd2 mother had hung out. He hid behind a large 746a18f475 laundry basket and peeked out. Beyond the white cloth, he saw his beautiful mother reading a 3da01e33c8 book, and his father sitting beside her, gazing at her.280bed55d3e2eb418030
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And next to them, 4501816cc9 a small cradle caught 74d030a059 his eye.c3d662bf7e2bb6831af4
His gaze, deep and warm, almost 33e54f3ec5 tender, was filled with love.b0ffe5c892fb557bcd63
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It was f8bd1f9863 simply love.eda00ba925eb1fc03ec9
It was pure love, filled with deep affection, trust, and 944b281539 tenderness that couldn’t be expressed with any other words.8890805efb1d43e33c2f
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But strangely, whenever his father looked at his 62be7bd336 mother like that, he felt like crying.609077e28fed59f1f12e
His heart ached, and he 1d7d1acbf5 tried to look away. At that moment, the bright sunlight disappeared, ec0484bde7 and darkness suddenly enveloped the village.ff485fcb7c61a720f397
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Flames began to spread 01c7002ac6 across the white sheets.788d390688b88c9d870d
The fire quickly engulfed the entire house, like dry c0d4514014 leaves catching fire, and then spread throughout the village.a73e6544675f266ded31
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As the flames soared high into the 559d67ee77 sky, he finally came to his senses f8665007fc and looked back at the house. His father was still standing in 3f373d9546 front of the burning house.ac0f11ff26f86072f2db
He shouted and screamed 27efe0ea1c for him to come 2fb896a1dd out, but his father 7255861e8a didn’t move.a03bdf698c61f891440c
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He just smiled.e639b61d692b14ccdd89
A happy, yet ca9d6c1aa5 sad smile…066e78c380d52ccf5cb3
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✨⋆⁺₊✧e470085adcd733fc7d5d
“Damn it…”8860309e1ebe2deb26fc
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Ruan, having been awakened by a rare e193de063f nightmare, washed his face and sighed at f670b3275b his bloodshot reflection in the mirror.7c717343aa471579319f
“…A sight for 7e3978b98c sore eyes…”72f52e40b1d168162a13
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Looking at his less-than-ideal appearance, Ruan 7b1180d3c0 lowered his head and exhaled deeply.243ce7079758c82d27a1
He hadn’t had the nightmare for a 16166e6561 while because he’d been so busy, but effdce6c62 it had started again recently.f1bbe8531e1e88d64024
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Perhaps because he felt he was getting close to the end, 1327172187 the memories of that day kept replaying in his mind.f66c919e6d5c79a2794c
“Get a grip. Get a e8149959c2 grip, Ruan 4e8af58e25 Campbell.”5e178b07f784e660d0c2
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He scolded himself, baf8c296f4 telling himself not f0cc8d6aa6 to waver now. He raised his head, dried his face, tidied 35f5f2f7d9 his hair, and put on his uniform. He still had some 43a616754f time, so he decided 013211c639 to have breakfast before 503b1b17ae heading to the office. Just as he was ebeb7cdb40 about to leave for 6376cb6bbc the dining hall, he 3c54197da0 heard heavy footsteps approaching.40ad6a3a2fc193538cfd
“Lieutenant!”cbafd58aa16faa424c30
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He turned around at the 4faac84a82 loud yell that echoed through d00768c697 the narrow hallway. A large figure was 938532edf8 running towards him.c030aace2c0f624e8cd2
It was Alfred.d7cf5425a81aec0e55eb
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The problematic new 27ad4d5b19 recruit, the embodiment af8ab9b12f of naivete.c05c1037c42156d1f0d4